News

Little Rock, Ark — Congressman-elect French Hill (AR-02) was approved Thursday by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve on the Financial Services Committee for the 114th Congress. Hill was assigned to the committee along with two incoming Republican freshman, Mia Love of Utah and Bruce Poliquin of Maine.

“I will bring my three decades of professional experience in business, commercial banking, and finance to the legislative and regulatory oversight considerations of the committee,” said Hill. “Additionally, my past public service on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee staff and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury will enhance my effectiveness.”

A ninth generation Arkansan, Congressman-elect Hill also served as a senior economic policy advisor to President George H.W. Bush and has been active in civic activities in his hometown of Little Rock. Mr. Hill and his wife, Martha, live in Little Rock with their two children.

Little Rock, Ark. — Again today, Patrick Henry Hays lied about his liberal record on gun control – denying to reporters his involvement in Mayor Bloomberg’s group Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG).

To see a MAIG letter Hays co-signed in 2011, click here. To see a MAIG letter Hays co-signed in 2008, click here.

“Hays joined Bloomberg’s liberal gun control group and supports the Obama-Bloomberg gun control agenda. Hays is lying about his liberal record on gun control because he’s just another dishonest career politician who will say anything to get elected,” said Jack Sisson, campaign manager.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has invested more than $1,000,000 to defeat Patrick Henry Hays. Hays is currently the only candidate running for office in Arkansas with an “F” rating from the NRA.

“I’ve been with the NRA for 20 years, and I’ve never seen a more despicable politician than Pat Hays, and if he’s willing to lie about this, he’s willing to lie about anything,” said NRA Chairman Chris Cox

Little Rock, Ark. — 26-year, career politician Patrick Henry Hays has doubled down on his deceptive campaign to mislead the public with another mail piece telling voters that the National Rifle Association (NRA) supports his candidacy. The NRA sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Hays campaign and the Democratic Party of Arkansas. The NRA has also threatened legal action against Hays and his allies.

“I’ve been with the NRA for 20 years, and I’ve never seen a more despicable politician than Pat Hays, and if he’s willing to lie about this, he’s willing to lie about anything,” said NRA Chairman Chris Cox.

“26-year, career politician Patrick Henry Hays cannot be trusted and should be ashamed of himself for deliberately and repeatedly lying to the people he’s asking to serve. Hays is the only candidate in Arkansas with an ‘F’ rating from NRA because he’s the only candidate in Arkansas who has pushed for the Obama-Pelosi-Bloomberg gun control agenda,” said Jack Sisson, campaign manager.

The NRA is fighting back against Patrick Henry Hays’ false claims with a new radio ad. The NRA has been running TV attack ads against Hays.

“I’m a job creator with an ‘A’ rating from the NRA who will hold President Obama accountable,” said French Hill. “Arkansans deserves honest campaigning, not Washington-style dysfunction, deception and deceit.”

Little Rock, Ark. — Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) endorsed French Hill, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02).

“We need French Hill in Congress. He’s a job creator who will help us balance the budget and get our economy growing again. Help us send a message to Obama and Pelosi that Arkansans have had enough – vote French Hill for Congress,” Congressman Ryan said.

“Congressman Ryan has been a major leader in the effort to get our country’s fiscal house in order, and I am thankful to have his support. It is time to end out-of-control spending and balance the federal budget,” Hill said.

Little Rock, Ark. — Patrick Henry Hays, Democrat candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), has an ‘F’ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is spending more than $1,000,000 to defeat Hays. Yet Hays and his allies have run two political mail pieces telling voters that they have the NRA’s support.

Yesterday, the NRA sent cease-and-desist letters Hays and Democratic Party of Arkansas, demanding that they stop these deceptive mailings and publicly repudiate their actions. The Hays campaign has yet to respond to these letters from Chris Cox, Chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund.

“Voters have a choice: Patrick Henry Hays is a career politician with an ‘F’ rating from the NRA who will side with President Obama’s failed agenda — I’m a job creator with an ‘A’ rating from the NRA who will hold President Obama accountable,” said French Hill.

“Hays is a 26-year, career politician who will say anything to win an election and hide the truth. As the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial staff has said, Hays’ attacks are shameful, deceptive and insulting to voters. French Hill has an ‘A’ rating from the NRA, Patrick Hays has an ‘F,'” said Jack Sisson, campaign manager.

Background: Hays is the only candidate running for office in Arkansas with an ‘F’ rating from the NRA. The NRA has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars in TV, mail and digital advertising to defeat Pat Hays. Hays may claim an NRA membership, but the NRA is ashamed of Hays’ reckless record on guns.

To see what the NRA says about Patrick Henry Hays, including their TV attack ad, click here.

“HAS A campaign for Congress ever dropped so low so fast? Surely one has. More than one. For example, there was one such in this year’s primary—when Ann Clemmer and Colonel Colonel Conrad Reynolds tried to gang up on French Hill. But their campaigns were more comedic than vicious.

“Then there were historic classics like Pryor (David) vs. McClellan (John) in 1972, and the inimitable Tommy Robinson vs. Sheffield Nelson in 1990, when both ran for governor but Bill Clinton won. That was a lollapalooza of an election year, and now we get Hays (Pat) vs. Hill (French) in the race for Congress in this state’s Second District—and the mud is flying.

“Patrick Henry Hays’ campaign had started out so well, too. His commercials were cute. He ran on his record. Look at what’s happened in North Little Rock over the last couple of decades when I was mayor. Not only that, but I have a beautiful family and, I assure you, a sense of humor. Honest. I should be your congressman!

“Months ago, when those kinds of commercials ran, you didn’t have to mute your television. And some of us didn’t cringe at the very thought of the coming campaign for this state’s Second Congressional District. Everything was coming up sweetness and light. Civility, we think it was called, if you can remember what that was by now.

“Then . . . .

“For some reason, for some regrettable reason, in less than a month Patrick Henry Hays’ campaign went from sailing high through the sky to plowing through, or maybe under, the mud. Remember his ads that tried to tie his opponent, Mr. Respectable Banker himself, French Hill, to Martha Shoffner, the disgraced state treasurer who got caught taking bribes from a no longer reputable bond dealer who admitted trying to bribe her? Those low-down commercials—approved by Mr. Hays, in person—made French Hill sound like some kind of crook. (‘French Hill: Getting rich with your money.’)

“Those of us who pay more attention to politics than normal, mentally healthy people should had to watch that commercial a couple of times before we (1) could make ourselves believe that it really said what it said, and (2) could make ourselves believe that Patrick Henry Hays really did approve of said commercial. But it really did, and he really did. Every shameful time it ran and re-ran. His words started sounding like a confession. A confession played over and over again. And here the Pat Hays we’d known was such a nice man, too. Elections will do that—turn nice Dr. Jekylls into vicious Mr. Hydes.

“Now comes this bit with the NRA.

“OVER THE past few days, campaigns for both men—in full silly mode as Election Day nears—have been going tit-for-tat about who’s chummier with the National Rifle Association, whose endorsement has come to seem all-important in Arkansas elections. In their latest salvo, Patrick Henry Hays’ people have been doing their best to out-gun the opposition:

“‘Mayor Hays is a longtime member of the NRA, has a concealed carry permit, owns a variety of firearms, cherishes the shotgun his daddy gave him, and will be a strong protector of the right to keep and bear arms.’ Or so says Pat Hays’ campaign manager, David Furr, who’s started to sound like a pop country song—and isn’t about to let his candidate be out-Bubba’d by anybody.

“All of which might have been fine if it had ended there. There’s nothing new about a politician’s trying to win a few votes among the camo-and-orangehats crowd. Remember when even John Kerry, running for president back in ’04, showed up at a grocery store in Ohio during goose season? His ‘Can I get me a huntin’ license here?’ still wins the brass ring—and we mean brass—as the phoniest line of that whole presidential campaign. Which is saying something, considering its general tone from start to finish.

“But those running the Pat Hays campaign right here in Arkansas just had to take one more gratuitous, unnecessary, contemptible step. Down. Not satisfied with mentioning their candidate’s NRA membership and gun ownership, they waved around a letter sent to Pat Hays by one Wayne LaPierre.

“You might recognize the name. Wayne LaPierre is the executive vice president of the NRA—who also appears on television every chance he gets.

“The Hays campaign says Wayne LaPierre, in that letter dated Sept. 19th of this year, praised Mr. Hays for his friendship, honored him for his leadership, and nominated Patrick Henry Hays for the NRA’s National Patriot medal. Ooo-wee! The National Patriot medal! Imagine!

“Well, you might not have to imagine. Because you might have gotten the very same letter.

“After the Hays campaign made such a big deal about the letter and nomination for the medal, your friendly statewide editorial page types called the NRA’s national headquarters on the Eastern Shore, and talked to one Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for that organization. His characterization of that oh-so-impressive letter: ‘It was a mass mailing fund-raising letter.’

“Oh.

“How massive, exactly?

“‘It was sent at least to our membership base. It was at least 5-million-plus. It was a fund-raising piece of direct mail.’

“WE ASKED for a copy of the form letter and the ever-obliging Mr. Arulanandam obliged. Sure enough, Mr. LaPierre’s letter proudly nominates Patrick Henry Hays for the National Patriot’s medal. But personal the letter wasn’t:

“‘Enclosed is a National Patriot’s medal confirmation form. Please review the information on your form carefuly. Check the spelling of your full name. Check the address, as well, and then return it to me and activate your Golden Eagles membership as soon as possible . . . .’

“Wow. Your Golden Eagles membership! That sounds as important as one of those Magic Decoder rings kids used to get in cereal boxes—or was that high honor one of those advertised in the back of Captain Marvel comic books? Or was it Superman? We forget after all these years. And this National Patriot’s medal sounds just as forgettable. Only less cute. And more expensive:

“‘Golden Eagle dues are $200 per year, which you can pay in full right away, or in four installments of $50 each within a twelve-month period. . . .’

“Who among us lucky recipients hasn’t received just such a letter, if not from the NRA then from some other outfit in need of a few hundred bucks from another sucker?

“But what about the Hays campaign’s quoting the letter as saying the medal is ‘awarded neither casually nor widely’? Yes, of course the letter says that. They all do, says Mr. Spokesman Arulanandam. In other words, the letter is in full accordance with the standard operating (if sketchy) procedure employed by such fund-raising letters.

“And this is how the Hays campaign promotes its candidate. What next, trumpeting Patrick Henry Hays’ exclusive right to be granted Full Membership in the AARP’s Discount Club? You can’t be turned down for any reason! All applications will be processed!

“(Sigh.)

“Oh, yes, we almost forgot in the midst of all this hubbub and hullabaloo over what’s only a form letter: In the course of touting the letter as some kind of gala recognition of their man’s virtues, these hot-shot campaigners conveniently omitted the little, inconvenient fact that the NRA has endorsed Pat Hays’ opponent, the aforesaid French Hill, in this election.

“Strength, long-suffering citizens. It’ll all be over in less than a week. Then we can all go back to throwing out junk mail without looking at some of it in sheer disgust.”

Little Rock, Ark. — Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is campaigning hard across central Arkansas for French Hill, candidate for Congress (AR-02). Today Gov. Huckabee is headlining a “Freedom Rally for French Hill” with special guests Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Rep. Tom Cotton (AR-04) and Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-02) in Conway. At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, Gov. Huckabee will host a similar French Hill rally in Searcy at the White County Senior Center.

French Hill’s campaign has also launched a district-wide radio ad featuring Gov. Huckabee. To listen to the ad, click here. “I’ve known French Hill for over 20 years, and when I see the attacks on his integrity and honesty, it makes me sad that truly good and Godly man like French Hill are falsely attacked by Nancy Pelosi’s political machine,” said Gov. Mike Huckabee. “I’m urging you to elect French Hill to Congress. French Hill doesn’t need a job in Congress, but Congress and Arkansas need French Hill.”

Little Rock, Ark. — Patrick Henry Hays, Democrat candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, launched a new TV ad cementing his status as a 26-year, career politician who will say anything to win. In the ad, Hays claims to be committed to the Second Amendment and states, “I’m a proud member of the NRA.”

The Facts: Hays is the only candidate running for office in Arkansas with an “F” rating from the NRA. The NRA has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars in TV, mail and digital advertising to defeat Pat Hays. Hays may claim an NRA membership, but the NRA is ashamed of Hays’ reckless record on guns.

The Question: If the NRA is working to defeat Hays, why would Hays boast about being a member of their organization in a TV ad?

The Answer: “Patrick Henry Hays is a 26-year, career politician who will say anything to win an election. Hays has an ‘F’ rating from the NRA, calls Obama his ‘star quarterback,’ and supports Obama’s liberal gun agenda,” said Jack Sisson, campaign manager.

“I am proud of my NRA endorsement and ‘A’ rating. While my opponent supports more government mandates and President Obama’s liberal, gun agenda, I will hold President Obama accountable and fight for common sense, Arkansas values,” said French Hill.

To see what the NRA says about Patrick Henry Hays, including their TV attack ad, click here.

Little Rock, Ark — Little Rock businessman and candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (AR-2), French Hill, announced his African American coalition and released a new campaign ad “Prosper” today.

“French has worked hard to listen and understand the concerns of the African American community. This relationship began long before he decided to offer his record of diversified community services and public policy experiences in government,” said Mrs. Annie Abrams, coalition chair.

“I don’t look at French as a Democrat or a Republican,” said Richard Mays, former Arkansas Supreme Court Justice appointed by Governor Bill Clinton. “I support French Hill because he will support policies that will allow our community to prosper.”

“I will fight for opportunities, careers and choices for all Arkansans,” said French Hill. “This tread-water economy is leaving too many African Americans behind, and it’s simply unacceptable.”

The coalition includes community leaders from both sides of the aisle and from across the congressional district. Coalition leaders include: